PUBLIC TO POLITICIANS: FIX SOCIAL SECURITY

August 24, 1999

While congress and the president continue to avoid making substantive reforms to Social Security, the American public is demanding that they act. In a recent poll for CBS news, Social security reform emerged as the top priority of American voters, beating out such other issues as taxes, health care, education, and gun control. At the same time, a survey of younger American workers found that nearly half of workers between the ages of 22 and 33 believed that they would receive no benefits from Social Security by the time they retire. An additional 33 percent believed that they would receive some benefits but that those benefits would be less than retirees receive today. Clearly, American voters are recognizing the importance of Social Security reform. If the politicians fail to act, Social Security will almost certainly be a major issue in the 2000 elections.

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